When England won the Ashes in 2005, the sight of Kevin Pietersen's skunk hairstyle was almost as memorable and iconic as Andrew Flintoff consoling Brett Lee, Michael Vaughan raising the urn itself -or THAT drunken bus tour.

But KP's nut did seem to bring good luck to the team so no doubt Wigan's Paul Scharner thought he'd try and charm the gods with a black and white number of his very own.

The result? He now looks like a very small chessboard and his barnet has coincided with sporting defeats of biblical proportions.

Firstly, the man who fired Wigan into the 2006 League Cup Final with a semi-final strike against Arsenal, unveiled his new locks for Austria at home to Spain last week.

Be it for Austria or Wigan, Paul Scharner's black and white top is not a winner

The 5-1 drubbing that followed should have been a warning that a lucky charm Scharner's noggin most certainly was not and a trip to the barber's should have followed - or at least a hair wash in a basin full of Henna.

Not contacted: David Platt

But no...Vienna meant nothing to him and he gleefully looked ahead to his next match - the Premier League clash at White Hart Lane against stuttering Tottenham.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Jermain Defoe scored five times as Spurs won 9-1 and the only question now is will the Austrian get the message?

If he doesn't at least it'll be a talking point and it's certainly not the worst thatch a footballer has sported in this country.

But what were - and indeed still are?

Sportsmail got to the root of the problem, combed the archives and almost contacted David Platt (get it?) before perming the following eleven from a huge selection of bad hair days, not including Everton's Marouanne Fellaini, because it's classy - and he's a big bloke who's not afraid to get booked.

Andy Carroll, Newcastle

When Carroll celebrated his first Magpies goal last season in the 2-2 draw with West Ham, the net buster took second place to the Snoop Doggy Dogg-esque cornrows hair style, which would look more at
home in south central Los Angeles than in front of the Gallowgate.

Andy Carroll celebrates his first ever Newcastle goal - but his header was overshadowed by his haircut

And the less said about Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini's 1970's afro the better.

Nevertheless, Sportsmailhas celebrated; shall we say, the top 10 most interesting barnets in football history.

Taribo West, former AC Milan, Derby and Nigeria defender

Taribo's double tuft: Former Nigeria defender Taribo West was famous for his strange hair style

Bobby Charlton, England and Manchester United legend

It's was a good job that 1966 World Cup hero Bobby Charlton was one of the most gifted players of his generation - otherwise he would have been remembered purely for his hair - or lack of it.

Bobby Charlton made the most of a bad situation with his lack of strands

Jason Lee, former Nottingham Forest and Watford striker

You had to feel sorry for the pineapple shape haired hitman after revealing the abuse he has subjected to from away supporters over his extreme haircut affected his form. Oh well! All together now: 'He's got a pineapple on his head, he's got a pineapple...

Jason Lee was given a torrent of abuse week in week out over his unusual haircut

Djibril Cisse, ex-Sunderland and Liverpool forward

The former Liverpool striker has blessed the Premier League with some great goals - and some unusual hairstyles.

Frank Rijkaard, former AC Milan and Holland defender

Frank, to be honest, you should have spat in you own hair. Now he's a manager you would have thought he'd have learned by now - but he hasn't.

Frank Rijkaard's hair is just as bad as a manager as it was when he was a player

Kevin Keegan, Liverpool, Newcastle and England forward

Keegan is a legend on Tyneside and Merseyside - and not just for his goals. Look up 1970's perm in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of King Kev.

Kevin Keegan could handle any perm-utations

Chris Waddle, ex-Spurs, Newcastle and England winger

King of the mullet Chris Waddle took his horrendous haircut overseas after joining France giants Marseille from Spurs. The Parisian fashion houses are only just recovering from the impact of the Geordie's atrocious hair do.

You mullet: Chris Waddle spearheaded the 'short on top, long at the back' look in the 1980's

David James, Portsmouth and England goalkeeper

The goalkeeper was once bestowed the nickname 'Calamity James' after a string of high-profile errors during his spell with Liverpool. His hair styles have been just as calamitous.

David James has lit up the Premier League with some awesome saves - and bizarre hair cuts

David Beckham, ex-England captain

Who else could top Sportsmail's list of conspicuous haircuts? David Beckham truly is the Duke of the 'do'. From the blond highlights to the shaven head to the World Cup 2002 mohican, never has one man's head of hair been the subject of so much attention.

The early years: David Beckham his hair relatively understated during the opening stages of his career

Close shave: Beckham sporting his shaven headed look (left) and his famous mohican

Beckham with his blond mohican during the 2002 World Cup in Japan

Beckham with his 2003 pony tail (left) - though the midfielder is currently settling on a more conventional look nowadays

Who have we missed? Is there anyone you can think of who was a crazy hair style? Let us know below.